Self-priming centrifugal pump



y 1938. J. w. GALLAGHER 2 SELF PRIMING CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed Oct. 25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Attorney J. w. GALLAGHER 2,123,651

July 12, 1938.

.- SELF PRIMING CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed Oct. 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I .mIPmIM I'rwentm' JWZaZ/gyer Attorney Julylz, 1933- J. w. GALLAGHER 2,123,651

SELF PRIMING CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed Oct. 23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 12, 1938 2,123,651 sELF-rnmuNG oENTan-UGAL PUMP John W. Gallagher, Seneca Falls, N. Y.

Application October 23, 1935, Serial No. 46,374

2 Claims.

My invention relates generally to centrifugal pumps of the vacuum forming type, and particularly to a. centrifugal pump of this character which is self-priming, and an important object of the inyention is to provide an eflicient and compact arrangement of this character.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawings, where-- in for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawin'gs:---

Figure l is a general end elevational view of an "embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional View taken through Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 2 approximately on the line 3-3 and looking toward the right in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an end view of the cover plate taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. v

Figure'5 is a perspective view of one of the vacuum rotor blades.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the vacuum rotor showing the mounting of a blade thereon. v

In accordance with the present invention the priming or vacuum pump is only made sufliciently large to prime the centrifugal pump itself. Although it is-feasible to mount the vacuum priming pump at either side of the main centrifugal pump, the present embodiment of the invention contemplates a most compact and efllcient arrangement which establishes a combination of the two functioning features in such a5.-

way that each. cooperates with 'the other tothe fullest extent so as to provide an eflicient centrifugal pump unit of the smallest available size and bulk, consisting of the fewest number of parts, the same being readily accessible for repair or replacement.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates, the centrifugal pump casing or case which includes the body 6 and the body I separably connected by suitable connecting means 8.and defining an impeller chamber 9 leading into the discharge chamber III which has the discharge neck ll arranged tangentially.

A cylindrical portion l2 on the body section 1 contains a suitable roller bearing l3 lubricated by an oil cup l4 and in a reduced part of this cylindrical portion is a bushing ii, the bushing 55 I5 and the bearing l3 rotatably mounting .the

main pump shaft |6 which is keyed as indicated by the numeral in the hub portion l8 of the impeller IS. The impeller has the hollow cham- The auxiliary pump casing cover 24 is mountedby suitable means on the annulus 22.

- A cylindrical shell 25 is mounted in the enlarged interior portion of the annulus 22 and in this cylindrical member 25 work the auxiliary priming blades 26 which work through slots 21 in the sides of the tubular extension 2| of the rotor and have their radially inward ends slotted as indicated by the numeral 28 in Figure 5 and also notched as indicated by the numeral 29. The slots produce shoulders 30 and 3| which ride against the end edges of the bushing 32 which floats and is supported solely by the inner ends of the vanes or blades 26. A helical spring 33 encircles the bushing 32 and is held in place by the notches 29 inthe blades 26.

The cylinder 251is located eccentrically with peller or main rotor l9 and the portion 2| thereof rotates the blades 26 in a semi-rotary pump eflect within the cylinder 25. I

Inlet and outlet passages 34 and 35, respectively, extend longitudinally in the annulus 22 and have radial portions 36 which lead through openings 31 through the cylindrical member 25 into the space in which-the blades 26 work.

'A thrust bearing 38 is arranged in the left hand end of the chamber 2| to receive the thrust of the impeller l9 against the cover 24.

A concentric tube 39 open at its inward end faces immediately the left hand end of the impeller when the cover 24 is in place, and also the auxiliary pump outlet 40 in the cover and the auxiliary pump inlet 4| in the cover are in communication with the respective passages 35 and 34 in the annulus 22.

The auxiliary pump outlet 46 discharges into the tube 39. The outer end of the tube '39 is connected to a casing 44, which casing is connected at its lower end to a supply pipe 42. A

check valve 43 in the casing 44 seats on the top of the pipe 42. A pipe 45 connects the pipe 42 below the check valve '43 with the inlet passage cause both of the rotors to turn. The auxiliary pump rotor will draw air from the pipe 42 through the pipe 45, the passages 48 and 34 into the auxiliary pump chamber and discharge this 20 through the impeller i9 and into the discharge pipe. When suflicient water has been drawn up to substantially fill the tube 39 and the chamber 20, the impeller l9 becomes operative to discharge this water into the discharge neck H, creating suction in chamber 20 and the tube 39, so that water from the pipe 42 rises past the check valve 43 into the tube as and flows to the impeller l3 which is then operative to pump water. Both pumps then deliver water. If, for any reason, the impeller [9 should again become unprimed by entry of too much gas or air into the tube 39, the auxiliary pump rotor will again prime it as set out above.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the materials, and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:--

1. A centrifugal pump. oi the character described comprising a main impeller casing having a main impeller mounted therein, said impeller having a main shaft supported in said casing, a hollow extension on said main casing and forming an auxiliary priming pump casing, an auxiliary priming pump rotor operating in the auxiliary casing, said main impeller having a tubular inlet portion operatively engaged with fully primed and fully supported by the the auxiliary rotor, and a cover on the auxiliary rotor casing and having a main fluid supply tube in communication with the open end of the tubular inlet portion of the main impeller, said auxiliary pump casing having an inlet passage and an outlet passage for the auxiliary pump rotor, said passages being extended into the cover, said auxiliary rotor comprising a plurality of radially movable blades mounted in radial openings in the tubular inlet portion of the main impeller, and a tubular bearing engaged and supported by the radially inward ends of said blades and within the tubular extension of the main rotor and means-connecting the inlet of said auxiliary pump with said main fluid supply tube.

2. A centrifugal pump of the character described comprising a main impeller casing having a main impeller mounted therein, said impeller having a main shaft supported in said casing, a hollow extension on said main casing and formingan auxiliary priming pump casing, an auxiliary priming pump rotor operating in the auxiliary casing, said main impeller having a tubular inlet portion operatively engaged with the auxiliary rotor, and a cover on the auxiliary rotor casing and having a main fluid supply tube in communication with the open end of the tubular inlet portion of the main impeller, said auxiliary pump casing having an inlet passage and an outlet passage for the auxiliary-pump rotor, said passages being extended into the cover, said auxiliary rotor comprising a plurality of radially movable blades mounted in radial openings in the tubular inlet portion of the main impeller, and a tubular bearing engaged and radially inward ends of said blades and within the tubular extension of the main rotor, said blades being cut out to define shoulders for engaging'the opposite ends of the bearing for holding the bearing in place and means connecting the inlet of said auxiliary pump with said main fluid supply tube.

JOHN w. GALLAGHER. 

